Exercise, behavior and dietary changes have a significant impact on improving mental and physical function in low-income adults with chronic low back pain, according to a study published in the current issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Researchers led by Teresa Damush, Ph.D., assistant research scientist at the Indiana University School of Medicine, who is also a Regenstrief Institute, Inc. research scientist, enrolled 211 inner city residents over age 18 in the study. The participants were predominately female (73 percent) and African-American (59 percent).

Study participants were divided into two groups, both of which continued to see their physician for treatment of low back pain. One of the groups participated in a self-management program. These individuals attended weekly classes in a neighborhood health center where back-strengthening exercises were taught to improve physical function. As importantly, the classes were designed to teach individuals how to fit exercise into their daily schedules.

Sessions also were conducted to teach study participants in the self-management group coping mechanisms for negative emotions such as depression and frustration. Dr. Damush, who is a health psychologist, said many study participants had deep fears of disability. All participants were counseled to communicate regularly with their physician rather than being a passive participant in control of their pain.

"Our study showed that empowering low income adults to deal with their pain through such self-management strategies as exercise, behavior and dietary changes, significantly improved both mental and physical functioning. With better mental and physical functioning individuals with low back pain can return more quickly to work and family activities," said Dr. Damush.

Back pain is the second most common neurological ailment after headache, in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. Acute or sh'"/>

(Date:10/12/2017)... ... ... The American College of Medical Informatics (ACMI) will present the 2017 Morris ... of AMIA’s Annual Symposium in Washington, D.C. AMIA’s Annual Symposium is taking ... in the field of medical informatics, this prestigious award is presented to an individual ...

(Date:10/12/2017)... ... October 12, 2017 , ... On Saturday, October 21, the Health & Wellness ... Moonlight to raise money for the American Heart Association Heart Walk. Teams of up ... work together to keep their treadmills moving for 5 hours. Treadmills will start at ...

(Date:10/2/2017)... Oct. 2, 2017 AllianceRx Walgreens Prime, the combined ... Walgreens and pharmacy benefit manager Prime Therapeutics LLC (Prime), ... which included the unveiling of new signage at its ... well as at a few other company-owned facilities across ... to patients, some of whom will begin to see ...

(Date:9/28/2017)... WASHINGTON , Sept. 28, 2017 Cohen ... to advance the use of wearable and home sensors ... brain disorders. Early Signal Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused ... populations, will provide an affordable analytical system to record ... ...